Take Care of Drafts
Nothing drives up your energy bills more than drafts, and that is why it is so important to identify these before the temperatures drop. Sometimes there are gaps that need caulking. Other times windows are not as energy efficient as they should be, which means it is either time to replace them or install plastic over the windows for an extra layer of protection against the outdoor elements.
Get Help With Heating
It’s also crucial that you ensure the heating system within your home works as well as it possibly can, Furnace filters should be cleaned or replaced, and you should verify that your furnace is in good (Read more....)
[...]]]>National Fire Prevention Week is a good time to think about keeping your home safe while you keep it warm. Space heaters can be a good way to heat individual rooms or zones within your home, but using them requires a bit of common sense, too.
First of all, when you buy a space heater, be sure to get one that has been evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another nationally recognized lab. UL listed appliances undergo a further level of third-party safety testing. You should also buy a space heater that will automatically shut off if it’s tipped over.
When you’re using a space heater, put these safety guidelines in place:
· Place a space heater on level ground well away from flammable materials like blankets, upholstery and curtains; as a rule of thumb, these combustible items should be kept at least three (Read more....)
[...]]]>One of the biggest questions we get on our website, survivingsurvivalism.com, is how to begin achieving off-grid/energy independent status. Not everyone can afford to go out and buy a 5 kilowatt solar array and the associated batteries. This article is written for those of you who want to begin your road to energy independence, as well as being able to use your laptop, mobil devices, etc..
1. Switch to Linux
Linux is an operating system -the way that Windows is an operating system -usable on PCs, MAC and Android devices. Linux’s biggest advantage, other than being free, is that it does not allow viruses to infect your system. Any change to your system must be verified with your system password, so a virus cannot slip in. Applications such as word processing, video (Read more....)
[...]]]>Whatever the reason is, alternative energy is here to stay, and this article will examine some of the pros and cons for some of the most common alternative energy solutions out there today.
Wind Energy
Wind appeals to a lot of people because it is a very clean source of energy. There are no harmful emissions, so it is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of energy in existence.
Two of the best things about wind energy are that we will never run out of wind and a typical wind energy system does not require much maintenance.
However, wind is only a practical solution in certain areas. If you live in an area without constant windy conditions it may not make sense for you.
In addition, the blades of some windmills are a threat to birds and other wild life. Also, wind is not an energy source that can be counted on (Read more....)
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